Separable hinge



1939- A. R. MARTINDALE 2,171,038

' TSEPARVABLE HINGE Filed Nov. 8, 1937 Ittornegs.

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates toaseparable hinge which is especially adapted for use in connection with burial casket construction. In the present method of casket construction, the lid members are secured to the body members by means of the conventional types of hinges, the leaves of which are inseparable. When the caskets are to be covered and lined, the present hinges are removed from the members by removing the threaded screws which secure the same to their respective casket members, after which the screws must again be replaced. In replacing the present hinges, the lid member is not aligned with the body member unless particular care is exercised, with any degree of misalignment resulting in a misaligmnent of the locking mechanism. With the separable hinge herein shown and described, it is unnecessary to remove any of the screws while the lid member is separated from the body member for the purpose of covering and lining the members, and thereby creating a substantial saving in time and labor.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a hinge which may be attached in the manner shown on the drawing, and which may be separated one leaf from the other, and again reassembled with the accuracy that was originally obtained.

Another objectv of the invention is the provi- 80. sion of a hinge comprising two separable members which may be locked together and maintained in locked position, and which may be easily and quickly unlocked and separated without causing one of the leaves thereof from becoming mis- 85. adjusted with relation to the companion leaf.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hinge having two separable members, one of which has a strap formed integrally therewith, and with the strap forming a means by 401 which pivotal action is provided to the member having the strap formed thereon.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a separable hinge which is simple of construction, which is economically manufactured, and which is easily separable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will suggest themselves in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be pointed out in the appended claims.

" The features of the invention will be hereinafter referred to in detail in the following description, reference thereto being had in the accompanying one sheet of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the hinge,

:vith the same being shown in assembled condi- Figure 2 is a detail cross section through the assembled hinge, taken on line 22 of Figure 1, and showing the members in cross section, and on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a cross section detail similar to Figure 2, but with the members being shown in open or hinged position.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the normally operative leaf member.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the normally operative leaf member, taken from line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view of the normally stationary leaf, or escutcheon plate.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the escutcheon plate, taken from line of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the slidable locking member.

Figure 9 is a detail cross section through the locking member, taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail section showing the hinge in place in connection with hinged-together members, such as for instance, the side and lid members of a burial casket.

Figure 11 is a detail section similar to Figure 10 except with the hinged-together members being shown in open position.

Like characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, the adaptation, and the advantages of the invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as fully and as comprehensively as I may.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I designates the normally movable leaf of the hinge, the same being preferably formed of metal, and substantially oblong in shape. A strap 2 is formed integrally with one side of the member I, and is curved downwardly with relation thereto. The strap 2 is comparatively narrow with relation to the member I, and has the shoulders 3 formed near the lower end thereof, with the shoulders 3 projecting laterally with relation to the strap 2. An aperture 1' is formed through the member I near each end thereof, with the apertures forming means through which the member I may be secured to a lid member or other suitable object. Notches 4 are formed in one edge of the member I, with one of the notches being located adjacent each side of the strap 2, the purposes of the notches 4 being hereinafter set forth.

The second member or escutcheon plate 5 is also substantially ablong in shape, and is preferably formed of metal, with the central portion 6 thereof being offset upwardly with relation to the end portions, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, and 11. A slot 1 is formed through the member 5 by means of turning the portion 8 downwardly with relation to the member 5. An elongated aperture 6 is formed through the portion 6, with one end 6" of the aperture being countersunk and providing for the reception of the head of the threaded screw it. An aperture 5' is formed through the member 5 near each end thereof, with the same forming means through which the escutcheon plate 5 may be secured to the upper face of the side of a casket.

The slidable locking member 'or plate 9 is formed of a flat piece of metal and has a lug l9 formed at each of two adjacent corners thereof and forming a recessed portion therebetween, with the recessed portion having the beveled portion ll formed thereon, and against which the member 2 engages when the hinge is in the open position, as shown in Figure 3. A threaded aperture I2 is formed through the member 9 and provides for the reception of the threaded screw I3. The slidable member 9 provides a means for looking the member I in hinged relation with the escutcheon plate 5 when the member 9 is positioned as shown in Figure 1, and also provides a means for separating the members I and 5 when positioned as shown in Figure 6.

The escutcheon plate 5 is secured, by means of the threaded screws l5, on the upper surface of the side A of the casket, with the same being mortised to receive the plate 5, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The member l is secured into a mortise formed in the lid member B of the casket by means of the threaded screws [4, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. With the threaded screw 93 being loosened, and with the locking plate 9 being retracted to the position as shown in Figure 6, the strap 2 is inserted downwardly through the slot 1, after which the locking plate 9 is moved toward the slot 1 until the lugs l0 stop against the turned-down portion 8. The threaded screw i3 is then turned until the head portion thereof is seated into the countersunk aperture 8" of the offset portion 6. The lid member of the casket may then be manipulated in the usual manner, and with the member 2 bearing against the beveled portion ll of the locking plate 9 when the lid member is in open position, as shown in Figures 3 and 11.

It will be noted that the shoulders 3 prevent the strap 2 from being disengaged from the slot I while the plate 9 is in the locked position, as shown in Figure 1, due to the lugs 10 projecting across the ends of the slot 1. Whenv it is desired to remove the lid member of the casket, the screw is is loosened to the position as shown in Figure 7, and the locking plate 9 is retracted to the position as shown in Figure 6, after which the strap 2 may be withdrawn upwardly through the slot l. The notches *3, of the member I, provide clearance for the respective lugs- Ill of the locking plate, as shown in Figure 1.

From the above description, it will be obvious. that the adjustment of the hinges in relation to the casket members is not changed when the lid member is removed therefrom, and consequently, the relative positions of the casket members will be maintained when the same is reassembled.

I desire that it be understood that, while the hinge has been shown and described as being used in connection with the construction of burial caskets, I am not to be limited to the specific use set forth, but that the hinge may be used in connection with other articles suitable thereto.

I also desire that it be understood that I am not to be limited to the specific design and construction of the several parts herein shown and described, but that minor changes may be made therein, insofar as the changes may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully shown and described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A separable hinge comprising a pair of companion members, one of said members having a slot formed therethrough and with a slidable plate adjustably secured adjacent thereto and extendible thereover, the second of said members having a strap formed thereon with a shoulder formed on each side thereof, with the strap extending through the slot of the first member, and with the slidable plate of the first member having means for engaging the shoulders of the strap of the second member.

2. In a separable hinge, an escutcheon plate having an elongated slot formed therethrough, a slidable plate adjustably secured to the escutcheon plate and located adjacent the elongated. slot and slidable thereover, a swingable hinge member having a strap with shoulders formed thereon and extending therefrom, with the strap extending through the elongated slot of the escutcheon plate, and with the slidable plate removably securing the strap in the elongated slot by bearing against the shoulders of the strap.

3. In a hinge of the class described, one member thereof being relatively stationary and forming an escutcheon plate and having an elongated slot formed therethrough with a recessed portion being formed adjacent the slot, a plate slidably positioned within the recessed portion and secured therein by means of a threaded screw, a hingeable member having a curved strap with shoulders formed thereon and projecting therefrom, with said strap extending through the elongated slot of the escutcheon plate, and with the slidable plate removably securing the strap in the elongated slot by engaging the shoulders thereof.

4.. In a separable hinge, one member thereof having a slot formed therethrough, a locking plate secured thereto by means of a threaded screw extending through the member and being threaded into the locking plate and with the looking plate being positioned adjacent the slot, a second member having a curved strap formed thereon and with shoulders being extended therefrom, with the curved strap of the second member extending through the slot of the first member and with the locking plate removably securing the curved portion of the second member in the first member by means of the locking plate engaging the shoulders of the curved portion of the second member.

ALPHEUS R. MARTINDALE. 

